Process for making fullerene fibers
First Claim
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1. A process for making a carbon fiber comprising one or more fullerene tubes, comprising:
- (a) establishing an electric field between a needle tip and an opposing electrode;
(b) providing vaporized carbon to the space around the electric field to form a growing carbon-containing precursor for fullerene which precursor contains carbon-carbon bonds that have a fullerene structure on the needle tip;
(c) focusing a laser beam between the growing precursor and the opposing electrode; and
(d) withdrawing the needle tip from the opposing electrode while maintaining the electric field between the growing precursor and the opposing electrode and while providing vaporized carbon to the space around the electric field to form said carbon fiber.
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Abstract
This invention provides a method and apparatus for producing fullerene fibers by establishing an electric field between a needle electrode and an opposing electrode in the presence of carbon and a heat source. Carbon is directed by the electric field to the needle electrode and heated by the heat source to form a carbon-carbon bonded fullerene network. The needle electrode may be moved to lengthen the fullerene network into a fullerene fiber. Fullerene fibers of 0.5 cm or longer may be produced by this method.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A process for making a carbon fiber comprising one or more fullerene tubes, comprising:
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(a) establishing an electric field between a needle tip and an opposing electrode; (b) providing vaporized carbon to the space around the electric field to form a growing carbon-containing precursor for fullerene which precursor contains carbon-carbon bonds that have a fullerene structure on the needle tip; (c) focusing a laser beam between the growing precursor and the opposing electrode; and (d) withdrawing the needle tip from the opposing electrode while maintaining the electric field between the growing precursor and the opposing electrode and while providing vaporized carbon to the space around the electric field to form said carbon fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A process for making carbon fibers comprising one or more fullerene tubes, which comprises:
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(a) introducing carbon to a fiber growth site comprising an electric field and a laser beam for heating the growth site; (b) guiding the carbon with the electric field to said growth site; (c) reacting at least a portion of the carbon guided to the growth site into a carbon-containing precursor for fullerene which precursor contains carbon-carbon bonds that have a fullerene structure to form said carbon fiber; and (d) maintaining the growth site positioned in the laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A process for making fullerene tubes comprising:
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(a) providing a fullerene tube nucleation zone maintained in an electric field, (b) providing a needle tip and a laser beam within the fullerene tube nucleation zone, c) providing carbon to the fullerene tube nucleation zone under conditions sufficient to form a carbon-containing precursor for fullerene which precursor contains carbon-carbon bonds that have a fullerene structure, having a first end anchored to the needle tip and a second end open for bonding to additional carbon, and (d) withdrawing the needle tip from the fullerene tube nucleation zone to maintain the second end within the laser beam in the fullerene tube nucleation zone.
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14. A process for making a carbon fiber comprising one or more fullerene tubes, comprising:
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(a) establishing an electric field between an initial fullerene growth site and an opposing electrode; (b) focusing a laser beam between said initial fullerene growth site and the opposing electrode; (c) providing vaporized carbon to a space around the electric field to form a growing carbon-containing precursor for fullerene which precursor contains carbon-carbon bonds that have a fullerene structure on said initial fullerene growth site; and (d) withdrawing said initial fullerene growth site from the opposing electrode while maintaining the electric field between the growing precursor and the opposing electrode and while providing vaporized carbon to the space around the electric field to form said carbon fiber connected to said initial fullerene growth site. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A process for making a carbon fiber comprising one or more fullerene tubes, comprising:
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(a) establishing a high electric field having strength of 1 to 20 volts per Angstrom between a needle tip and an opposing electrode in the absence of an electrical discharge; (b) providing vaporized carbon to the space around the high electric field to form a growing carbon-containing precursor for fullerene which precursor contains carbon-carbon bonds that have a fullerene structure on the needle tip; and (c) withdrawing the needle tip from the opposing electrode while maintaining the high electric field between said growing precursor and the opposing electrode and while providing vaporized carbon to the space around the high electric field to form said carbon fiber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A process for making carbon fibers comprising one or more fullerene tubes, which comprises:
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(a) introducing carbon to a carbon fiber growth site comprising an electric field having a field strength of 1 to 20 volts per Angstrom and a means for heating the growth site comprising a laser beam or light as the heat source; (b) maintaining the electric field to prevent electrical discharges therein; (c) guiding the carbon with the electric field to said growth site; (d) reacting at least a portion of the carbon guided to the growth site into a carbon-containing precursor for fullerene which precursor contains carbon-carbon bonds that have a fullerene structure to form said carbon fiber; and e) maintaining the growth site positioned in the means for heating said growth site. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification